Abstract: The invention provides a method and a system for measuring a physical quantity by means of a tandem interferometer optical sensor system based on low-coherence interferometry. The system comprises a light system, a sensing interferometer and a polarization readout interferometer. The invention provides a polarization interferometer comprising a single birefringent wedge. The invention also provides for a dispersion-compensated optical sensor system. The invention also provides an interferometer sensitive to temperature that comprises a trajectory in a LiB3O5 crystal with an x-cut orientation.

Abstract: A method and system for conveying an arbitrary mixture of high and low latency traffic streams across a common switch fabric implements a multi-dimensional traffic classification scheme, in which multiple orthogonal traffic classification methods are successively implemented for each traffic stream traversing the system. At least two diverse paths are mapped through the switch fabric, each path being optimized to satisfy respective different latency requirements. A latency classifier is adapted to route each traffic stream to a selected path optimized to satisfy latency requirements most closely matching a respective latency requirement of the traffic stream. A prioritization classifier independently prioritizes traffic streams in each path. A fairness classifier at an egress of each path can be used to enforce fairness between responsive and non-responsive traffic streams in each path.

Abstract: The device and method are used for heating a central section of a rotor mounted for rotation in a gas turbine engine.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is a method of awarding prizes, also known as progressive jackpots, in association with a wagering game such as a Poker game. A particular application of this method is in association with a Poker game on an electronic gaming device. For awarding the progressive jackpot, players must accumulate in a counter a number of point corresponding exactly to one of the predetermined criteria. To obtain points, players have only to play the Poker game as on any other Poker machine. The points are added in the counter along with the winning outcomes in the game. A particular embodiment consists of awarding two kinds of points: win points and no-win points. With this embodiment, only win points are effective to win the progressive jackpot. The no-win points increase the counter values but can not lead to winning the jackpot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for providing a determined position in real-time of an underwater object using a plurality of sensors operating at various sampling rates and for using the determined position in real-time in order to perform inspection tasks inter alia.

Abstract: A personal flotation device (PFD) comprises a front flotation portion overlaying an upper region of a wearer's chest and a rear flotation portion overlaying an upper region of the wearer's back. The front flotation portion is joined with the rear flotation portion along a transverse top edge of the PFD adapted to overlay shoulders of the wearer. A seat portion is adapted to extend between the wearer's legs and is substantially free of buoyant materials relative to the main flotation member. At least one fastening strap is releasably fastenable to retain the main flotation member in place on the wearer. A majority of buoyancy provided by the PFD is disposed above a horizontally extending reference axis which corresponds to a center of gravity of the wearer. At least one ballast weight may also be provided and is disposed below the reference axis.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling a machine in which the magnetic flux emanating from a rotor is selectively diverted to a second path in the stator which bypasses the winding or windings so as to magnetically de-couple the winding or windings from the rotor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing split casted concrete blocks. The method comprises the steps of providing a production plate adapted to support one or more casted blocks. One or more of these blocks are casted on the production plate. A parting slot is formed on a top surface of each of the one or more blocks. The production plate is transported to a support surface of a block splitting machine. Each of the blocks is impacted with a pitching blade aligned with the parting slot of a respective one of the one or more casted blocks to form the split blocks on the production plate.

Abstract: A heating cable guide strip for retaining and guiding a resistance heating cable in a serpentine path on a sub-floor adapted to receive a cementitious material to form a radiant heated floor is described. The method of use is also described. The heating cable guide strip is molded of plastics material and defines an elongated flat base having a plurality of spaced-apart wire retaining guide members. The retaining guide members have at least a curved section for guiding the heating cable along a curved path about one or more of the guide members. The guide members further have a flexible cable retention flange to permit the positioning and retention of the cable captive between opposed ones of the retaining guide members. The heating cable guide strip is attached to the sub-floor by glue, nails or screws.

Abstract: There is provided a method and circuit for trimming a functional resistor on a thermally isolated micro-platform such that a second functional resistor on the same micro-platform remains substantially untrimmed; a method and circuit for providing and trimming a circuit such that at least two circuit elements of the circuit are subjected to a same operating environment and the operating environment is compensated for by distributing heat generated during operation of the circuit among the two circuit elements; a method and circuit for trimming a functional resistor on a thermally-isolated micro-platform such that a constant temperature distribution is obtained across the functional resistor; and a method and circuit for calculating a temperature coefficient of resistance of a functional resistor.

Abstract: A cooling device includes a plurality of passages extending through outer platforms of turbine vane segments for directing cooling air in a choked flow condition towards a downstream turbine shroud.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an isolated bacteriocin, Divergicin M35, derived form Carnobacterium divergens M35. It also concerns a composition comprising an effective amount of Divergicin M35 and the use of that bacteriocin to kill or limit the proliferation of a microorganism.

Abstract: A network node includes a system enabling high-speed protection switching of traffic between respectively associated working and protection channels of a communications network. The node comprises a multi-stage switch fabric, an interface, and a toggle. The multi-stage switch fabric has a first stage including a respective plurality of stage-1 switch elements. The interface is operatively coupled to a set of one or more stage-1 switch elements, and is adapted to aggregate the working and protection channels of the communications network on a selected one of the set of stage-1 switch elements. Finally, the toggle is adapted to control the selected stage-1 switch element to map traffic between a middle stage of the switch fabric and a selected one of the working and protection channels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for data encoding such as 3 to 4 encoding (base64, uuencode etc.) is provided. Bytes of data to be encoded having negative values are made positive while preserving the information to be encoded. The positive values may be manipulated by addition (e.g. to a common store) and bit shifting to efficiently obtain encoded data such as by indexing an encoding alphabet.

Abstract: A fixture for functional testing of an assembled wireless device, the wireless device having a data port and a removable casing concealing a battery cavity having battery contacts, the fixture comprising: a base having an opening formed therein for receiving a retainer, the retainer being rotatably mounted in the opening for rotating from a first position to a second position, the retainer for receiving the wireless device with the removable casing removed while in the first position; a connector mounted in the retainer for engaging the data port of the wireless device when the wireless device is received by the retainer in the first position; and, a battery emulator insert rotatably mounted on the base, the battery emulator insert having power contacts for engaging the battery contacts in the battery cavity of the wireless device when the retainer is rotated to the second position.

Abstract: An Internet Call Waiting (ICW) service provides single-line subscribers (100) connected to the Internet with incoming call information, call screening and voice messaging capabilities. An incoming call is terminated at an ICW server (154). The caller is prompted to leave a voice message and the voice message is relayed in real-time over the Internet connection (138) to permit the subscriber to monitor the message. The subscriber can choose to answer the call at any time before the caller disconnects. Subscriber profile options specify how calls are treated. Calls may be forwarded to a second directory number, directed to a Voice-over-IP (VoIP) connection, or the Internet connection may be dropped and the call completed to the subscriber's directory number. The subscriber benefits from being able to screen voice messages in real-time, which assists the subscriber in determining how the call should be terminated.

Abstract: A method is proposed for improving pulp quality at high production rates on conical disc refiners. It permits a reduction in refining intensity by enabling fibre residence time to increase by increasing consistency, while avoiding the problem of plate plugging normally associated with high discharge consistency. In practice, inlet consistency is increased by the in-feed dilution, flat zone dilution or both, but without allowing the discharge consistency to rise. Instead, the discharge consistency is controlled at a fixed optimum value by the addition of dilution water within the conical zone. The result is that residence time is increased, and refining intensity decreased, by raising the consistency in the inner region of the refining zone, while avoiding the plate plugging caused by excessive consistency in the outer region of the refining zone.